Tesla Driver Speeding Before Crash
Tesla Driver Speeding Before Crash
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. On July 26, 2016, federal accident investigators said the man killed when his Tesla Model S crashed while in the self-driving mode was going 9 mph above the posted speed limit just before colliding with the side of a tractor-trailer. This information was released in a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Data Shows Tesla Driver Speeding Before Crash
Downloaded data obtained from the Tesla Model S indicated the vehicle was going 74 mph. The posted speed limit for that particular highway is 65 mph. It is a divided highway located in Williston, Florida in the vicinity of Gainesville.
Driver Using Cruise Control and Lane-Keeping Features
The Tesla Model S driver, Joshua Brown, a 40-year-old tech company owner from Ohio, was utilizing the sedan’s lane-keeping and cruise control features at the time, according to the report. These features are a part of the car’s Autopilot self-driving system. It was noted that the NTSB report failed to mention the Autopilot self-driving system.
It’s not just the NTSB investigating the Tesla crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also investigating the accident. The NHTSA has previously indicated that the Autopilot self-driving system was engaged.
Details of Crash
Sadly, the driver was killed when the roof of his Tesla struck the underside of a 53-foot semitrailer at a 90-degree angle. The impact sheared off the sedan’s roof prior to emerging out the other side of the semitrailer, a report indicated. The truck was making a left hand turn at the time of the incident.
Automatic Emergency Braking
The Tesla Model S was equipped with an automatic emergency braking system. NHTSA and Tesla have both previously said the Autopilot was unable to tell the difference between the white-colored side of the truck and the brightness of the sky. For this reason there was no attempt to brake by Brown or the self-driving system.
The CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, did not comment on the findings but said that the company will press forward with semi-autonomous driving systems, which can prevent accidents and injuries.
Asserting a Claim for Products Liability (Auto Defect)
To be successful in your pursuit of a products liability claim, it is important that you first meet certain factors. The claimant in a successful lawsuit must be able to prove that:
- The product or part was unreasonably hazardous;
- The claimant suffered an injury;
- The hazardous or defective product was the cause of the injury to the claimant.
If you have been injured due to a defect in a product or part, make sure to retain all documents pertaining to your accident and injury, including product manuals, medical records, medical bills and photographs. Contact an experienced products liability lawyer for more information.
Sacramento Products Liability and Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer. If you or someone you hold dear has been seriously hurt or lost their life in a crash and you think it was due to an auto defect, please give me a call for free, friendly advice. I’ve been helping Northern California victims and their families recover compensation for their personal injury and wrongful death claims since 1982.
My customer reviews are available here: Yelp, Avvo, and Google.
Visit my comprehensive website: www.autoaccident.com.
I am a Million Dollar Advocate. A Million Dollar Advocate is a trial lawyer who has been recognized for having numerous case verdicts and settlements in excess of 1 Million Dollars.
See some of my Past Verdicts and Settlements.
Photo Attribution: Wikimedia Commons – Phantom.jpg – Images in the Public Domain
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